Fighting Irish stun the world

AS Kevin O’Brien climbed into another six, and the Ireland cricket fans in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore started to think of an improbable victory over England, Vanessa Johnston wafted through the supporters, spraying them with a stress-relieving potion.

“Just enjoy the game,” the wife of Ireland fast bowler Trent Johnston smiled. O’Brien’s heroics so far meant that Ireland, an Associate team playing a full Test nation, would not be embarrassed on a world stage. O’Brien was at that stage 43 not out and Ireland, chasing a huge total off 328, still needed 145 off 18 overs. Ignominy had been avoided, but Vanessa was not even contemplating victory.

But it was not to end there. O’Brien would go on to score the quickest World Cup century in history, smashing a ton in just 50 balls and beating Matthew Hayden’s mark by 16 deliveries.